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Friday 23 April
This issue, we wanted you to meet the missionary Hinds family — Mark, Lucy, Sam (10) and Anna (7). They come from Sheffield and are currently living in Mandritsara, north-eastern Madagascar, working with the Good News Project.
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Mark, a primary schoolteacher, helps home-school Sam and Anna, along with the other missionary children in the project. He also teaches English at the Good News School one morning a week. Lucy, a paediatrician, works at the Good News Hospital.
Like so many Christians serving in Africa, they rely on MAF to get them to their destination safely. They write:
âWe arrived in Madagascar in the middle of January, after months of uncertainty surrounding our travel plans. These were due to the national and international restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
âWe were amazed and humbled at the way the Lord opened up the way for us to come to Madagascar when, humanly speaking, things seemed impossible!
âArriving in Madagascarâs capital city, Antananarivo, we had to quarantine for a few days — waiting for our negative COVID-19 tests before flying with MAF to Mandritsara.
âHowever, after being released from quarantine and having the paperwork signed off at the government office, we discovered the MAF flight couldnât take place as planned because the document granting permission to fly hadnât been signed.
âWe felt so near to our destination, and yet so far! God provided for us throughout our extended time in Antananarivo — with a chance to enjoy time together as a family after a busy few weeksâ pre-departure.
âHowever, as the days went on, it was less and less clear whether the MAF flight would take place, so we started to look at travelling to Mandritsara by road.
âA driver was found with a roadworthy 4x4 vehicle to survive the two-day (at best) journey, and we even bought supplies for the trip, ready to depart on the Sunday morning.
âIncredibly, on the Friday evening, we received a text to tell us that MAF now had permission to fly. They were even willing to do so on the Sunday, which meant we could arrive a day (or more!) sooner than by 4x4, and without the perils of road travel during the rainy season. We were delighted!
âThe team at MAF looked after us wonderfully. The process at the airport was smooth, and Sam was thrilled to be invited to âco-pilotâ with MAF Pilot Ian Purdey!
âIt was wonderful for us to see Mandritsara for the first time from the air, and to land at the airstrip, where we received a warm welcome from the Good News Project team.
âWeâre so grateful for the work of MAF in enabling journeys like this to be made in countries where road travel can be long and perilous.
âWhat a blessing to be able to partner with them as we serve the Lord in different ways across the world!â
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Please pray |
- That MAF receives prompt permissions to fly where needed, both in Madagascar and the other countries we serve.
- For Lucy as she works at the Good News Hospital, and for Mark as he balances being both a father and a teacher to Sam and Anna.
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